Vitamin studies

In conventional systems, feeds are supplemented with minerals and vitamins. Studies indicate that supplementing the winter feed of cows leads to enhanced levels of Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, and particularly Cu, in the milk of cows receiving a metal amino acid chelate and vitamins (Strusinska et al., 2004). 

Conflict of Concepts in Early Vitamin Studies. (With Stanley L. Becker). J. Hist. Biol., 4, 1-33 (1971). 

MRC Vitamin Study Research Group (1991) Prevention of neural-tube defects results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study. Lancet 338 131-137. 

The antiscurvy (antiscorbutic) activity was called vitamin C, and when its structure became known it was called ascorbic acid. The fat-soluble factor preventing rickets was designated vitamin D. By 1922, it was recognized that another fat-soluble factor, vitamin E, is essential for full-term pregnancy in the rat. In the early 1930s vitamin K and the essential fatty acids were added to the list of fat-soluble vitamins. Study of the human blood disorders "tropical macrocytic anemia" and "pernicious anemia" led to recognition of two more water-soluble vitamins, folic acid and vitamin B12. The latter is required in minute amounts and was not isolated until 1948. Have all the vitamins been discovered Rats can be reared on an almost completely synthetic diet. However, there is the possibility that for good health humans require some as yet undiscovered compounds in our diet. Furthermore, it is quite likely that we receive some essential nutrients that we cannot synthesize from bacteria in our intestinal tracts. An example may be the pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ).e... 

MRC Vitamin Study Research Group (1991) Prevention of neural tube defects result of the Medical Research Coundl Vitamin Study. Lancet 338(8760) 131-137 Muthuvel R, Venkataraman P, Krishnamoorthy G, Gunadharini DN, Kanagaraj P, Jone Stanley A, Srinivasan N, Balasubramanian K, Aruldhas MM, Arunakaian J (2006) Antioxidant effect of ascorbic acid on PCB (Aroclor 1254) induced oxidative stress in hypothalamus of rats. Clin Chim Acta 365(l-2) 297-303... 

A deficiency purely m pantothenic acid has probably never occurred, except Ln controlled studies. Persons suffering from severe malnutrition would be expected to be deficient in the vitamin. Studies with animals have shown that consumption of a diet deficient in the vitamin results in a loss of appetite, slow growth, skin lesions, ulceration of the intestines, weakness, and eventually death. Pantothenic acid deficiency also results in the production of gray fur in animals whose fur is colored. Biochemical studies with deficient animals have revealed severe de-creasesinpantothenicacidlevelsina variety of tissues, bu I only m (xlera le declines in the levels of coenzyme A in liver and kidney and maintenance of coenzyme A levels Ln the brain Smith t ai, 1987), Some striking defects in glycogen and ketone bc dy metabolism have been noted in pantothenic acid-deficient animals. 

Although adipose tissue contains high levels of vitamin E, the tissue might not be considered to function efficiently as a storage site of the vitamin. Studies with animals have demonstrated that a deficiency in vitamin E results in the rapid depletion of the vitamin in plasma and various organs of the body with little effect on that in adipose tissue. In contrast, a dietary deficiency in vitamin A results in the maintenance of the plasma concentration at the expense of the vitamin A stored in the liver... 

Wald NJ, Hacksliaw A, Stone R, Densem J. Serum alpha-fetoprotein and neural tube defects in the first trimester of pregnancy. MRC Vitamin Study Research Group. Prenat Diagn 1993 13 1047-50. 

B. L. Oser, D. Melnick, and M. Hochberg, Physiological availability of the vitamins study of methods for determining availability in pharmaceutical products. Ind Eng Chem AnalytEdn 17 401 11 (1945). 

As you ve probably guessed by now, one of the treatments of alcoholism, both chronic and acute, is large doses of vitamins, particularly the B complex vitamins. Studies have shown large doses of Bt, B0, niacin, pantothenic acid and B12 along with a high caloric diet has worked very well in treating polyneuropathy associated with chronic alcoholism. In all cases doses many times the normally required amounts are given. 

B.. absorption appears to be reduced with pectin while other vitamins studied showed no reduction in bioavailability. More research is needed to determine if pectin is beneficial, detrimental or benign when consumed as part of the diet. 

The significance of the reviewed data is somewhat limited by the fact that several of the available and approved procedures for analysis of the tissue concentrations of vitamins and hormones are not of the highest standard. Although observations made on human tissue samples are of particular importance, it should be pointed out that in the vitamin studies, the measurements on autopsy material are usually made without the opportunity for dietary evaluation. 

These vitamins are inexpensive and they are almost entirely nontoxic and free of undesirable side reactions, as compared with ordinary drugs. Studies of individual patients might indicate which vitamins are especially needed. We feel, however, that at the present time these vitamin studies of individual patients need not be carried out before megavitamin therapy is instituted, because almost all schizophrenics are low excretors for at least one of the three vitamins, and an increased intake of any of these vitamins has small probability of doing harm, and large probability of doing good. 

Kirk, J. E., and Chieffi, M., 1953, Vitamin studies in middle aged and old individuals. XI The concentration of total ascorbic acid in whole blood. J. Gerontol. 8 301-307. 

Fig. B-44. Which breakfast is better Four male rats from the same litter. The two on the left had a breakfast f buttered toast and coffee. The others had oatmeal and milk. This advertisement, which was used in the early 1900s, was based on an experiment conducted by Thomas B. Osborne, of the Conneaicut Agricultural Experiment Station, and LaFayette B. Mendel, of Yale University, who, in 1911, formed a brilliant partnership and pioneered in protein, mineral, and vitamin studies. (Courtesy, The Conneaicut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven)...

The two white rats pictured above were the result of pioneering vitamin studies conducted by Osborne and Mendel during the years 1913 to 1917. Top Rat on a diet deficient in B vitamins note the rough, scraffily coat, and the emaciation. Bottom The same rat after 12 days on a diet that included B vitamins note the marked changes in the coat. (Courtesy, The Connecticut Agricultural Ebtperiment Station, New Haven, Conn.)... 

---